By Contributing Writer, Marci Ferrell
As Christians we have the best news in the world to share, so why are we so hesitant to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others? I love the topic this month at Visionary Womanhood of “aiming to be women who are bright and salty.” In Matthew 5:13-14 God’s Word tells us we are salt and we are light.
By being light we are called by God to shine brightly in the darkness and by being salt we are called to be a preservative in a culture that is decaying away in sin. The best way we can expose the darkness and preserve a culture that is in decay is by sharing with them the Good News of the Gospel.
Why Should We Share?
We share the gospel with others out of love for them and concern for their eternal destiny. When we find ourselves not sharing the gospel with the lost the Lord has put into our lives, it usually is because of fear of man. We are concerned what they will think.
Other times it may be we are not confident that we can clearly share the gospel or we convince ourselves they have probably already heard it. We remind ourselves we don’t have the gift of evangelism like Ray Comfort, but we forget that all Christians are called to evangelize and share with the lost. If I don’t have the gift of mercy, does that mean I never have to show mercy to those around me?
There are many excuses, but all of them seem to forget how powerful the Gospel is, and that it is nothing we do that changes the hearts of men, but God.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6
We have been called out of darkness into His glorious light and are to be faithful to share the hope that is within us and always being reminded that faith comes by hearing.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:17…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15
As a non believer I heard the gospel many times in my lifetime, and as I reflect back, it may have annoyed me at times but I am grateful to God for all those who took the time to share with me…whether it was through a tract, street preacher, or a friend or family member.
God saves some of the most unlikely converts and I can attest to the fact that I was one of them. We never know who the Lord is drawing and how He will use our faithfulness to share His truths in the conversion of an individual.
We are the redeemed bride of Christ who cannot help but proclaim the beautifully adorned narrow way, the liberating truth, and the abundant life that all men in all nations can have if they put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Burk Parsons, Tabletalk Magazine, June 2012
Getting Equipped
We spend time planning our days and activities, but how many times do we really plan for evangelism? Let’s look at a few ways to help make evangelizing the lost a part of our daily lives:
Prayer
Do we take the time to pray for a heart for the lost around us? We need to be praying for opportunities to evangelize, and God will be faithful to answer our prayers. Keep a list of lost friends and family in your sphere of influence you are praying for, and as you are praying over them as a family, you may be amazed how God uses your children to share the Gospel with them.
Preaching the Gospel to Yourself Daily
Is there any better way to start each day than with a reminder of the great work that Christ has done for you and how it applies to all that you do?
Over the course of time, preaching the gospel to myself every day has made more of a difference in my life than any other discipline I have ever practiced. I find myself sinning less, but just as importantly, I find myself recovering my footing more quickly after sinning, due to the immediate comfort found in the gospel. I have also found that when I am absorbed in the gospel, everything else I am supposed to be toward God and others seems to flow out of me more naturally and passionately. Doing right is not always easy, but it is never more easy than when one is breathing deeply the atmosphere of the gospel.
Milton Vincent, A Gospel Primer
Clearly Communicating the Gospel
Sharing the gospel isn’t just talking about what the Lord is doing in our lives or doing good deeds for others. Those are important aspects to share with others and show how the gospel has changed our lives but for them to clearly understand the truths of the gospel it must be verbalized. ”Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words” is not biblical.
To clearly communicate the gospel we must know the gospel. Take the time to learn the major truths of the gospel. I’ve written a series at my blog on evangelism and the post Can You Share the Gospel? addresses the question – What is the Gospel?
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
These are some key truths that must be understood about who Jesus Christ is for salvation:
Jesus is God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
Jesus is the only way.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
There is salvation in no other name.
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
Using Tracts
I would prefer to talk with someone one on one, but there are times when a quick interaction doesn’t allow the time, so this is where I am thankful for the many tract resources available. It is a quick way to get the gospel into someone’s hands, and God’s Word doesn’t return void ,so if that individual takes the time to read the tract, we never know how God may use that in their life.
The Lord used tracts that were handed to me over the course of my life, so I know they have purpose and impact. Living Waters ministries has some great tracts available (the million dollar bill tract is a family favorite) and I encourage you to keep some handy in your purse, car and even by your front door.
When preaching and private tale are not available, you need to have a tract ready…get good striking tracts, or none at all…therefore, do not go out without your tracts.
Charles Spurgeon
Closing Thoughts
We must have a vibrant faith and obvious love for the Lord before we can truly share it with others. Spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word are the most important things we can do. The reminder that God is sovereign and that I cannot do anything to save anyone but just be faithful to share His truth with those around me is a very comforting truth.
When our lives reflect the truth of the message we are proclaiming that message is more likely to be understood. Our lives need to be a living testimony of the hope that is in us.
May we be bold witnesses to the lost world around us and pray for opportunities to share our faith with others. Witness together as a family and pray daily for your lost family and friends. Reach out with hospitality to the lost world around you. Plan, pray and act!
We must be ready to speak of Christ in any situation. We must know the essentials of the gospel. We must have confidence in God and His Word.
John MacArthur
About Marci Ferrell
Marci, I absolutely love this post.
What you have shared in this article is totally the heart-beat of our family and the desire of our lives. I appreciate how you’re encouraging boldness, along with a total trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit to draw people to salvation. And your little comment about how the gospel must be verbalized is SOOOO true. I have always really disliked the quote, ”Preach the Gospel always and if necessary use words” . . . and I’m rooting some big “Amen’s!!!” from this little corner of the world about this attitude not being biblical.
The Great Commission calls us as believers to go into all the world and to PREACH the Gospel. We need to care enough for the eternal lives and destiny of each precious person around us . . . enough to think about them and to genuinely pray for them. We need to ask God to help us to get past that desire that is so concerned about what others think of us (that “fear of man” trap) . . . and to not care about how well we look and sound in our presentation (that desire to “impress” trap). We need to love and we need to share the Gospel and we need to simply OBEY what God has called us to do.
The Bible tells us that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men. The message of the Cross is foolishness. It doesn’t make eloquent “sense” to the natural mind. But this awesome Gospel message that our Lord Jesus Christ has given us the privilege and joy to deliver is filled — like the DNA of a SEED — with the life-changing POWER of God.
We simply humble ourselves to share it; God, through the power of His Holy Spirit and His drawing grace does the work; and people’s lives can be totally TRANSFORMED from death to life, from eternal darkness to God’s glorious light, and from hell to heaven.
Thank you SO much, Marci, for the time you took to write this post. I’m going to be praying for ladies to PRINT this out and to really study what you have written and to begin to step out to share the Gospel in each sphere of influence.
WOW!!! SO GOOD!!!
Bless you, sweet sister. (By the way, I was praying for you and your family this afternoon.)
Ann
I give thanks to our God for the example you and your family are to “Preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth”. Thank you dear sister for your encouragement and prayers.
I so, so agree with you about the phrase, “Preach the gospel always and if necessary use words” NOT being scriptual. Faith comes from HEARING, and hearing FROM THE WORD OF GOD.
Thanks for the refreshing encouragement!!
Such wonderful words, Marci! We have used the million dollar tracts before as well